Sri Lanka, Jan. 13 -- The Committee on Public Finance has instructed the officials of the Welfare Benefits Board to amend the existing criteria to make the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme more effective.

Since various issues have arisen in relation to the existing 22 criteria used to determine the eligibility of individuals for the current Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme, officials were instructed to take measures to select future Aswesuma beneficiaries under new criteria, according to the Department of Communication of Parliament.

These matters were discussed when the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, met on January 8, 2026, at Parliament.

At this meeting, the ex...